The more you get to the playoffs, the more accurate you shoot and the harder you defend

We often say that the playoffs are the ultimate stage to test the quality of stars, no matter how well you play in the regular season, it is paper, and the playoffs are the sea of swords and fire, and it is the place where real gold is refined. And the same is true for role players.

There is such a player, who averaged 9.2 points per game in the 23-24 regular season, shooting 36% from three-point range; In the playoffs, he averaged 14.9 points per game and shot 48% from three-point range. This year, he averaged 10 points per game in the regular season and shot 29% from three-point range; In the playoffs, he has averaged 12.9 points per game and shot 47% from three-point range.

His regular season three-point shooting percentage and playoff three-point shooting percentage cannot be explained by common sense at all. Last season's 12-point fluctuation was exaggerated enough, and this season's playoffs are 18 points higher than the regular season. So this season, I heard a commentator say that he was a non-space point, and I thought you must have forgotten how accurate he was in the playoffs last year.

This player, as many people guessed, the Pacers' third-year guard Nembhard. Since his rookie season, the label of a big-hearted and big-court player has been attached to him, with both the Lakers and the Warriors becoming his stepping stones.

In the 15th game of Nembhard's career, he hit a three-point shot from James' head to beat the Lakers away; In the 19th game of his career, he scored 31 points, 8 rebounds and 13 assists in the confrontation with Curry. As a second-round pick, he not only quickly moved into the rotation in his rookie season, but quickly became Haliburton's backcourt partner, and has remained until now.

After a stellar offensive performance in his rookie season, Nembhard went on to become one of the top individual defenders on the back line over the next two seasons, and Carlisle has made Nembhard a defensive sharpener since last season.

In the final game of the Eastern Conference finals, Nembhard delivered 6 steals and 1 block, with a plus/minus of +25. Six steals directly set a new record for steals in the final game of the divisional finals. Under his defense, Brunson scored just nine points on 4-of-10 shooting, and more importantly, four of Brunson's five turnovers were directly caused by him.

In the three-round series in the East, Nembhard faced all three All-Star guards who contributed excellent defense. Lillard was limited to 23.1 percent shooting by him; Mitchell was limited to 23.3 percent from the field; Brunson was limited to 38.2 percent shooting by him.

In fact, Nembhard was the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for January, when the Western Conference's Defensive Player of the Month was the famous Amen Thompson. That month, Nembhard was third in the East in steals and third in the East in turnovers, and the Pacers led the East in defensive efficiency.

Before the Finals began, I said the Pacers should put up a joint defense against Alexander and get him out of the game. But apparently I underestimated Nembhard's defense again, and while Alexander still scored 38 points in the game, he was only 3-of-9 against Nembhard.

The most crucial round of the game was when Nembhard was defending Alexander. The two have known each other since they were teenagers, and both know each other too well. Alexander broke through from his left hand and tried to force it with his speed, but Nembhard's chest withstood the blow.

Alexander turned to the right, and this MVP season, he has turned around like this countless times and then caused opponents to foul and go to the free throw line. But this time, Nembuhard once again held Alexander's line of attack firmly with his chest, while at the same time giving a clean account with both hands. The new MVP could only choose a difficult backward shot, which was finally missed, and then there was Haliburton's shocking shot.

For defenders, this is a textbook defensive round, in the case of size, speed, and inferior to the opponent, predict the opponent's offensive line in advance, cause physical contact in the maximum range allowed, and force the opponent to choose a difficult shot.

Nembhard has been doing this for countless rounds this season, and the Pacers' dirty work has basically been contracted by him and Nesmith, and in the field of guard defense, Nembhard deserves more attention and praise.

Of course, in the finals G1, Nembhard's most exciting round was the three points he singled out Alexander in the last two minutes. Continuously dribbling under the crotch, continuously pulling back to adjust the rhythm, and quickly double stepping back to hit three points after pretending to break through. This ball, which makes the difference of 6 points into 3 points, is of great importance.

I also noticed an interesting thing recently that his three-point shot was Lillard's, and he shot quickly. But his mid-range shot is a more consistent two-stage jumper, and a basketball coach certainly won't encourage you to change your shot too often, but no matter what kind of movement, accuracy is king.

This trip to the finals is like a reunion of old friends for Nembhard. Chet was his college student, Dort was his fellow countryman, and Alexander was his best friend. But now is not the time to catch up, and with three wins to go, Nembhard and the Pacers will be able to bring the O'Brien Cup back to Indiana.